Umpqua Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph Fly

Overview

The Flashback Pheasant Tail is a modern take on Frank Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph, one of the best-known nymphs in fly fishing.

It imitates a mayfly nymph, with a slim pheasant tail body and tail and a peacock thorax. The flashback wing case suggests the gas bubble a nymph traps under its wing pads as it gets ready to hatch, and it catches the eye of trout that might drift past a plain version. It works almost anywhere trout eat mayflies, which is nearly everywhere.

Euro Specs

• Hook: Standard nymph hook.
• Role: Dropper or upper fly; anchor only if beaded.

How to Fish It

• Indicator rig: fish it as the lead or trailing fly in a two-nymph rig through riffles and runs.
• Before a hatch: mayfly nymphs get active before hatching, so fish it near the bottom ahead of the hatch.
• Lift: let it rise at the end of the drift to imitate a nymph swimming up.
• Dry-dropper: hang it 18 to 24 inches under a buoyant dry.

Choosing Color and Size

Choose 12 for larger mayfly nymphs and faster water, and 14 as an all-around size for many Western and Eastern mayflies.